Seacrest Village Retirement Communities

As a jazz band played nearby, Renee Leger mingled with the co-workers, residents and family members she has come to know in 22 years working at the Seacrest Village retirement community in Encinitas.

The band was playing to celebrate her retirement and dozens of well-wishers filled the community’s central courtyard to pay tribute to Seacrest’s outbound vice president of operations. She started at the nonprofit, owned by San Diego Hebrew Homes, as director of food service, working her way gradually into the executive ranks, a fact not lost on less-senior employees who came to provide a proper send-off.

Seacrest, which employs more than 300 people, also operates a facility in Rancho Bernardo. Together with the Encinitas location, the organization cares for 314 residents who live in a range of settings from independent and assisted living to memory care and skilled nursing.

Employees named Seacrest a top workplace in a U-T San Diego poll, and Leger, many said, is a good example of why many choose to stay put after landing a job there.

Sure, they said, the salary and benefits are competitive. But the work environment is sometimes even more important.

Amy Stark, a physical therapist who has worked at the community for two years, unrolled a single-page commemorative write-up that listed Leger’s accomplishments. Running her finger down the list, she noted Leger’s rise as an example of what’s possible.

“People like Renee Leger are the reason why people like working here. You can start out in any job and end up as the VP of operations,” Stark said.

Stark, who came to the facility from Michigan, said helping employees understand that they are not stuck in narrow roles makes them more willing to help each other out.

And there is a certain attitude, many employees said, toward having fun. Like the recent retirement party, there are celebrations for all major holidays and many workplace accomplishments.

“Anytime we can think of a reason for a party, we have a party,” said Pam Ferris, Seacrest’s chief executive.

Seacrest Village started in San Diego with a small 10-bed facility on 54th Street in 1944. The operation had reached a 72-bed capacity by 1978 before moving to a 10-acre parcel on Saxony Road in Encinitas in 1989. The Rancho Bernardo location came seven years later.

Between hugs and well-wishes, Leger, whose last day was﻿ Thursday, said she has stayed at Seacrest for more than two decades because it applies the same basic philosophy to employees and residents.

“The culture is to take care of people. That’s what we do, whether its residents or employees,” she said.

Renee Leger, vice president of operations at Seacrest Village, opens some of her gifts at her retirement party in October.
— Nelvin C. Cepeda

Renee Leger, vice president of operations at Seacrest Village, opens some of her gifts at her retirement party in October.
— Nelvin C. Cepeda